The Lap of Luxury
When crafting a reception in New York City’s revered national academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, we couldn’t help but be inspired by the sumptuous space. To create a soiree worthy of its elegant environment, we teamed up with event designer Meredith Waga-Perez, owner of Belle Fleur. First, we selected a dramatic black and white color scheme—the powerful contrast suggests strength and clarity, says Waga-Perez, and of course, lends a level of formality. From the crown molding and crystal chandeliers to the checkered floor, the museum’s lavish interior demands a level of opulence. Here, we blended classic and contemporary forms on the tables to strike a stunning balance of softness and starkness. The graphic damask pattern on the tablecloths, from The Silk Trading Co., silktrading.com, sets a dressy tone, while black silk taffeta chair covers with sequined backs and skirted bottoms, available through Belle Fleur, bellefleurny.com, have a haute couture quality.
Pop Art
The bride’s bouquet of anemones, sweet pea and lilies of the valley, $500, from Belle Fleur, bellefleurny.com, coordinates with her dress and the overall event design. Ivory strapless embroidered tulle gown with black grosgrain detail, $11,990, by Carolina Herrera, carolinaherrera.com. Black South Sea cultured pearl necklace, $9,000; white South Sea cultured pearl necklace, $20,400; 18K gold and diamond clasps, $3,600 each, all by Mikimoto, mikimotoamercia.com. 18K white gold, diamond and black onyx ring, $4,900, by Judith Ripka, judithripka.com.
Ebony and Ivory
Because we were working with only two hues, texture played an important role in adding richness. A velvet-flocked silk damask fabric, which we used for some of the tablecloths, prompted similar motifs on the cake and stationery (and also appeared as the envelope lining). This invitations white script on black card stock, rather than the reverse, adds an element of surprise, $5,000 for 100 (including calligraphy, art, design, liners and engraving), by Bernard Maisner Calligraphy & Fine Stationery, bernardmaisner.com. It rests on a faux crocodilelined place mat from Dransfield & Ross, dransfieldandross.biz, inside a tray from Kim Seybert, kimseybert.com.
Classic Cards
The escort-card table features a lush arrangement of white hydrangeas, $800, surrounded by petite iron urns (a nod to the staircase banister in the background) holding tea lights, all from Belle Fleur, bellefleurny.com. Escort cards with envelopes, $4 each, by Bernard Maisner Calligraphy & Fine Stationery, bernardmaisner.com. Tablecloth from Ruth Fischl, ruthfischl.com.
Key Notes
A striking single anemone bloom adorns this leather “Buckle Notebook” guest book, $145; “Arabesque” roller ball pen, $125, both from Cursive New York at ABC Carpet & Home, cursivenewyork.com. Tablecloth from The Silk Trading Co, silktrading.com.
Midnight Oil
For flowers, we mixed graceful gardenias and hydrangeas with fashion-forward anemones. “The feminine white petals with a jet black center make a chic statement,” Waga-Perez says. The freestanding centerpieces, prices upon request, from Belle Fleur, bellefleurny.com, consist of a bed of anemones and sweet pea surrounding a black “Bourgie” lamp by Kartell, kartell.it. “The sexy, modern material is balanced by the baroque silhouette of the shade and the romantic bouquet at the base,” the event designer explains.
Jet-Setters
Guests are welcomed to their seats with a flourish: a black engraved menu card with white hand-beveled edges (matching the invitation), $2,000 for 200, and an ornately calligraphed place card, $4 each, both by Bernard Maisner Calligraphy & Fine Stationery, bernardmaisner.com.
A Study in Contrasts
Even your savory menu selections can reflect your color scheme, as in this artful presentation of white Chinook River halibut with black truffle beurre blanc, scallion black rice and sugarcane-braised white turnips, by Chef Tim McLaughlin for Catering by Restaurant Associates, restaurantassociates.com. The sleek, architectural lines of the Noritake “Palais” crystal, International Silver “Royal Danish” flatware and Bernardaud “Fusion White” china, all available through Belle Fleur, bellefleurny.com, keep the focus on the gourmet fare.
Cream of the Crop
White Russians make stylish signature cocktails when served in “Black Harriet” Juliska goblets and a Baccarat “Black Angel” highball and “Mille Nuits” tumbler, all available through Belle Fleur, bellefleurny.com. Op art mirror, used as a tray, from Las Venus at ABC Carpet & Home, lasvenus.com.
Graphic Design
Hand-cut sugar pieces modeled after the damask tablecloths decorate this vanilla and chocolate cake filled with espresso dark chocolate ganache and vanilla bean buttercream and covered in white fondant, serves 400, price upon request; the faux wrought iron cake stand is actually made of sugar, price upon request, both by Ron Ben-Israel, NYC, weddingcakes.com.
Sweet Finish
As a glamorous grand finale, a heart-shaped meringue is topped with champagne sorbet, a fresh blackberry and a mint sprig, by Chef Tim McLaughlin for Catering by Restaurant Associates, restuarantassociates.com.
